Samuel Osei "Sam" Sarpong, Jr. (c. 1975 – 26 October 2015) was an English-American actor, super-model, and musician. He performed in over sixty feature films, and fifty-five television shows, including such films as Carmen The Hip Hopera, Love Don't Cost a Thing, Keeping Up with the Steins, Anchor Baby and No Weapons, for which he won best lead actor at the San Diego Film Festival. He was also the host on MTV's Yo Momma. for three seasons. He was one of the first black male models for designer Tommy Hilfiger and was the face of the brand for over six years.

Biography

Sam Sarpong was born in London and moved to Los Angeles with his father, Sam Sarpong Sr. who is a native of Ghana, when he was 11 years old. He attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California, where he was a basketball star. When his father moved to Pasadena, Sarpong lived with a friend's family so he could continue attending El Camino Real. When his aspirations for a college and professional basketball career proved unsuccessful, he turned to acting and modeling. He was the brother of the British television presenter June Sarpong.

Sarpong died on 26 October 2015 at the age of 40 after jumping off a bridge in Pasadena, California. His death was ruled a suicide by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, pending an autopsy.